Chapter 892

"Could the crisis brought by over a dozen Qi Refining Realm's peak cultivators really be resolved so easily?"

Inside a valley near Baoting.

This was once Li Yi's temporary base here, where Xuan Yuezi and Zi Yu True Person waited, for none could rest easy until Li Yi returned safely.

Yet when Li Yi arrived and briefly recounted what had transpired, Xuan Yuezi was taken aback.

"Isn't this normal? Killing me would completely sever the chance of cross-realm passage—even a peak Qi Refining cultivator has no guarantee they can survive until the next spiritual energy resurgence. Their only options are two: either capture me and force me to reveal the method of cross-realm passage, or cooperate with me."

Li Yi spoke calmly: "But they had no choice, because I demonstrated sufficient strength—even if sixteen of them joined forces, I couldn't defeat them all, yet I could still break through their encirclement. The cost to them would be immense: they'd have to burn their Three Flowers in a desperate last stand."

"They're all seasoned beings who've lived at least a thousand years. After weighing the pros and cons, they naturally abandoned the idea. Even if not all thought this way, as long as their hearts were divided, I'd be safe—I did promise to lead them across realms."

Xuan Yuezi frowned in her robe: "Tai Yi, do you truly intend to fulfill that promise?"

"Of course," Li Yi smiled. "I've merely planted a seed; when I need them someday, they'll return on their own. Besides, I'm still only at the First Flower stage—subduing this group of peak cultivators is still beyond me. Once my Three Flowers fully manifest, the situation will be entirely different."

"I see," Xuan Yuezi's brow relaxed, finally understanding Li Yi's intent.

Given Li Yi's pace of cultivation and advancement, it wouldn't take long before these peak cultivators were truly convinced. After all, letting such a group of top-tier experts go unused would be a terrible waste.

Keeping this card up one's sleeve might prove useful at some unforeseen moment.

Moreover, the Dao Court is currently weak and must continue to grow. If Li Yi truly could bring these people under his command, then the title "Tai Yi Tian Zun" would be truly deserved.

Li Yi then turned to a middle-aged Daoist in purple robes beside him: "Zi Yu True Person, you've worked hard this time. Last time I left you behind in this world, I never expected such a turn of events."

"Tai Yi is too kind," Zi Yu True Person replied with deep respect, bowing in return. "This is merely my duty."

Li Yi added: "Your efforts this time have been truly meritorious—you've recruited so many Three Flower cultivators."

As he sensed the city, he couldn't help but be surprised.

After all, this was a major cultivation realm. Even after plundering, there were still unexpected gains.

"I flew the Thunder War Machine across this world several times," Zi Yu True Person said. "Two hundred and twenty Three Flower cultivators agreed to join us and cross realms with us. Unfortunately, I acted too late—had I come ten years earlier, the number might have doubled or tripled."

He sighed with regret.

Since all were at the Three Flower stage, their survival time in this End Dharma world was roughly equal. Beyond a certain limit, former Three Flower cultivators began dying in droves.

Only those with deeper foundations and higher realms could endure longer.

In truth, Li Yi's crossing here had already missed the optimal window. Years ago, even the Seven Immortal Sisters of the Tian Dao Sect had nearly been wiped out. If even the top sects suffered so, what of the small sects and lone cultivators?

"When I crossed over earlier, I dared not bring so many Three Flower cultivators with me. It's simply fate and timing," Li Yi said, shaking his head slightly.

Zi Yu True Person said: "Yet thanks to the Life Water you gifted us, these two hundred and twenty cultivators have survived. Otherwise, many more would have passed away one after another. The age of cultivators seems truly ending—only the Heavenly Beyond retains the last thread of Dao."

He sighed deeply.

After circling this world repeatedly, Zi Yu True Person had fully realized: the cultivation world was beyond saving. The new generation either fought on battlefields to expand territory, or picked up farming tools.

The traces of cultivators grew ever thinner; even a minor spell now drew astonishment.

Only Baoting was somewhat better.

A practice called "Wu Dao" was spreading through Baoting. Though it couldn't grant immortality, it extended life and granted some martial strength, preventing people from being so weak they couldn't even fight off wild dogs or hungry wolves.

"Compared to other worlds, this one is already quite good—at least it has no external enemies, and people can live in peace. It might even evolve into a secular imperial realm someday. That's not necessarily bad. It's just unfriendly to us cultivators—but what does it matter? We're crossing realms; our own destiny awaits," Xuan Yuezi said calmly.

She had long accepted all this—otherwise, she wouldn't have abandoned her Tian Dao Sect identity to follow Tai Yi.

"Your words, Immortal Sister, are wise. The End Dharma calamity cannot be avoided. Cultivators must follow Heaven's will—there is no way to defy it," Zi Yu True Person nodded.

He had let go of his attachment. This cultivation world was no longer the one he remembered. It was time to leave and start anew.

"True Person, have you asked those people whether they're willing to take the Self-Sacrifice Spell and cross realms with me?" Li Yi asked.

Zi Yu True Person smiled: "All who came here agreed to this condition. But many cultivators refused my offer—they couldn't bear to leave their homeland and chose to pass away within their sects."

"Dying for the Dao? Truly admirable," Li Yi said. "Then prepare everything—we cross realms immediately. They're surely eager to reach a world rich in spiritual energy and restore their cultivation as soon as possible. As for the Self-Sacrifice Spell, leave it to Immortal Sister. Later, after evaluating their contributions, we can slowly lift the spell from those who earned it. I'm often on the move and can't manage Dao Court affairs well."

He entrusted the lives of over two hundred Three Flower cultivators to Xuan Yuezi—both an act of trust and a delegation of responsibility.

After all, one must trust those one employs.

Xuan Yuezi paused, startled by Li Yi's decision, yet she nodded and accepted it.

Though holding the lives of over two hundred people was a powerful feeling, it also meant immense responsibility.

Poor management could easily lead to chaos.

Yet with these two hundred-plus joining the Dao Court, its strength would surge rapidly.

"But with so many Three Flower cultivators, Tai Yi, where do you plan to station them?" Xuan Yuezi asked. "The Dao Court alone isn't secure. I suggest placing them first in the Chishan Mountains of the Wildlands—there, spiritual energy is abundant, the mountain range vast, and housing two hundred people is effortless."

Li Yi said: "That's exactly what I thought. But not just Chishan—I plan to establish outposts in the Demon God Realm and the Xuan Immortal Continent as well. Yet to station forces in hostile worlds requires a peak cultivator to guard them, or they'll be wiped out instantly. So next time I come here, bringing away some peak cultivators will be crucial."

"Enough of that. Immortal Sister and True Person, prepare. In one hour, open the cross-realm gate and depart."

Xuan Yuezi and Zi Yu True Person nodded and immediately began gathering the former Three Flower cultivators for the crossing.

Soon, over two hundred aged Daoists, their steps slow and trembling, climbed the stone steps to the mountaintop and gathered before the grand hall. They bore no trace of their former status as top cultivators—each looked lifeless, on the verge of death.

As Zi Yu True Person had said, without the Life Water sustaining them, more than half would have already passed away.

Perhaps precisely because of this, they had no attachments—they saw their remaining bodies as tools to gamble for a future. Even if the crossing failed and they died in Baoting, they bore no resentment.

Yet Li Yi did not see them as useless elders. On the contrary, these former cultivators were the very foundation of this world. Taking them meant carrying away nearly the entire legacy of this cultivation world. When integrated into Earth, they would greatly aid its cultivation and evolution.

Soon.

The hour passed.

Xuan Yuezi and Zi Yu True Person completed their task, collecting the Self-Sacrifice Spells from all two hundred and twenty. From now on, their lives were under Xuan Yuezi's control.

"Hong Ji, open the hatch. Everyone, enter the warship. Prepare for cross-realm transit."

Li Yi summoned the Immortal Warship and ordered everyone aboard.

The Immortal Warship, containing its own universe, easily accommodated these two hundred-plus.

Soon.

All entered the warship. Li Yi stepped into the cockpit and immediately activated it.

A streak of light slashed across the sky, tearing open a rift far in the distance. The Immortal Warship plunged into it and vanished from this world.

When it reappeared, it had reached the Wildlands.

Thick spiritual energy enveloped the land, ancient and primal qi filling every corner. This place seemed like an untouched treasure, radiating an archaic, desolate aura.

Yet that didn't mean anyone dared underestimate this world.

To this day, the Demon God Realm, the Xuan Immortal Continent, and the Dark World dare not invade here.

Because this world truly has gods.

Even Li Yi dared not venture deep into it—he only guarded his own small patch, advancing steadily. Even when the Divine Blood Warriors of Shenyu City attacked, he merely defended passively, never retaliating.

"Xuan Yuezi, Zi Yu True Person, return to Chishan. I'm going to Beihuang City—I have personal matters to handle."

As the Immortal Warship passed a great city, Li Yi suddenly remembered something. He ordered Hong Ji to open the hatch and flew out alone.

Feeling the howling wind at his ears, the immense power of heaven and earth flowing into his body.

Li Yi's Divine Blood within this world seemed to boil.

He descended above Beihuang City.